Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHRL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHRL’ is disclosed, characterized by large, mophead inflorescences with red-pink flowers, and dark green foliage. Sepals open a vivid green, turning whitish-green. Plants are vigorous with upright habits. The new variety is a Hydrangea, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea x arborescens subsp.radiata.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNHRL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor, at a commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. Theobjective of the breeding programs was to produce new Hydrangeavarieties with large flower heads, and strong, upright stems. Theopen-pollination resulting in the new variety was made during 2011.

The parent varieties cannot be identified as this new selection resultedfrom an open-pollination in which seed bulk was collected from variousseed parents.

The new variety was found and selected by the inventor in 2015 at thesame nursery in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMNHRL’ was first performedduring 2015 in Grand Haven, Mich., by softwood cuttings. Throughsubsequent propagation, multiple additional generations have beenreproduced, having shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNHRL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMNHRL’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMNHRL’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Very large mophead inflorescences.    -   2. Strong, upright stems.    -   3. Sepals open a vivid green, turning whitish-green.    -   4. Red-pink petals on infertile flowers create a colorful “eye”.    -   5. Dark green foliage.

PARENT COMPARISONS

The parent varieties cannot be accurately identified for comparison.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar Hydrangea ‘SMNHRL’ can be compared to thecommercial variety Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, unpatented. Plants of ‘SMNHRL’are similar to plants of ‘Annabelle’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of ‘SMNHRL’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘SMNHRL’ has a hemispherical shaped inflorescence, while        ‘Annabelle’ has a rounded shaped inflorescence.    -   2. Inflorescence color of ‘SMNHRL’ varies from vibrant green to        whitish-green, while inflorescence color of ‘Annabelle’ is        white.    -   3. ‘SMNHRL’ has red-pink petals with a bright colored “eye”,        while ‘Annabelle’ has white central petals and sepals.

Plants of the new cultivar Hydrangea ‘SMNHRL’ can be compared to thecommercial variety Hydrangea ‘SMNHALR’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,858.Plants of ‘SMNHRL’ are similar to plants of ‘SMNHALR’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of however, plants of‘SMNHRL’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘SMNHRL’ has darker green foliage than ‘SMNHALR’.    -   2. ‘SMNHRL’ has red-pink petals in the center of infertile        flowers. ‘SMNHALR’ has lighter pink central petals.    -   3. Sepals of ‘SMNHRL’ turn whitish-green with maturity, while        sepals of ‘SMNHARL’ turn entirely white.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

‘SMNHRL’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show theplant's form, foliage, and inflorescences. The colors shown are as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new hybrid Hydrangea. Age of the plants photographedis between 2 to 3 years.

FIG. 1 shows a field grown plant of ‘SMNHRL’ grown outdoors in GrandHaven, Mich. at about 2.5 years of age.

FIG. 2 shows the mature inflorescence of a field grown plant of‘SMNHRL’, grown in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG. 3 shows the immature inflorescence of a field grown plant of‘SMNHRL’, grown in Grand Haven, Mich.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SMNHRL’ plants grown outdoors in Grand Haven,Mich. The plants were about 2 to 3 years old. Temperatures ranged from5° C. to 10° C. at night to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea arborescens subsp. radiata    ‘SMNHRL’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Softwood cuttings.-   Root initiation: Approximately 18 days.-   Roots: Thick, fine, fibrous, moderately dense. White and brown in    color, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, slightly outwards.-   Height: 90 cm.-   Plant spread: 105 cm.-   Pot size of plant described: #3 container.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 to 3 years.-   Growth rate: Strong.-   Plant vigor: Quite vigorous.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching.—Freely branching.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS Yellow-Green 145A to Yellow-Green 144B.            Mature: RHS Brown N200A.        -   Length.—80 cm.        -   Width.—5 mm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent on new growth.        -   Internode length.—5 to 12 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—9 cm.        -   Width.—7 cm.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cordate/obtuse.        -   Margin.—Denticulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Coriaceous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Coriaceous with pronounced            venation.        -   Pubescence.—On both sides, predominantly along veins and            mid-rib.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137B. Young            foliage under side: RHS Greyed-Green 191A. Mature foliage            upper side: RHS Green NN137B. Mature foliage, upper side:            RHS Greyed-Green 191A.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 145B-C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 145A, with tinges of            Greyed-Orange 177A. Under side: RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Lightly pubescent. Under side: Lightly            pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Natural flowering season: Summer.-   Quantity of flowers: About 2500 flowers and flower buds per plant.-   Inflorescence type: Mophead.-   Panicle:    -   -   Shape.—Umbel.        -   Height.—7 cm.        -   Diameter.—18 to 20 cm.-   Fragrance: Sweet, perfume-like.-   Sterile flowers:    -   -   Flowers per inflorescence.—Around 600.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Shape.—Round whorl.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Depth.—2 mm.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—2 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Round.        -   Bud color.—RHS Greyed-Red 182B-C.-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—4.        -   Arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—1.25 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Under side: Smooth.        -   Color.—When Opening, Upper side: RHS Red-Purple 69C. When            Opening, Under side: RHS Red-Purple 69C. Fully Opened, Upper            side: RHS Red-Purple 69C. Fully Opened, Under side: RHS            Red-Purple 69C.-   Sepal:    -   -   Number.—4 to 5.        -   Arrangement.—Cruciform/whorl.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—6 mm.        -   Width.—7 mm.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Under side: Smooth.        -   Color.—When Opening, Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. When            Opening, Under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Fully Opened,            Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144D, fading to 150C near            margins. Fully Opened, Under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144D.-   Pedicle:    -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Angle.—45°.        -   Strength.—Good, flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144D.-   Fertile flowers:    -   -   Flowers per inflorescence.—Around 1000.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Shape.—Round whorl.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Depth.—2 mm.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—2 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Round.        -   Bud color.—RHS Greyed-Red 182B-C.-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Whorl.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—1.25 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Under side: Smooth.        -   Color.—When Opening, Upper side: RHS Red-Purple 69C. When            Opening, Under side: RHS Red-Purple 69C. Fully Opened, Upper            side: RHS Red-Purple 69C. Fully Opened, Under side: RHS            Red-Purple 69C.-   Sepal: None.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Angle.—45°.        -   Strength.—Good, flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Sterile flower:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4 to 5.        -   Filament color.—RHS White NN155A.        -   Filament length.—2 mm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Rounded, dithecal, basifixed.        -   Color.—RHS Red 36B.        -   Pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Red 36D.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—2 mm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Bi-lobed.        -   Color.—RHS White NN155A.        -   Style length.—1 mm.        -   Style color.—RHS White NN155A.-   Fertile flower:-   Stamen:    -   -   Number.—Around 10.        -   Filament length.—4 mm.        -   Filament color.—RHS White NN155A.-   Anther:    -   -   Shape.—Rounded, dithecal, basifixed.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Red 36B.        -   Pollen amount.—Some.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Red 36D.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—2 mm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Bi-lobed.        -   Color.—RHS White NN155A.        -   Style length.—1 mm.        -   Style color.—RHS White NN155A.-   Other: Fertile flower petals shed readily.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the    normal diseases and pests of Hydrangea has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Typically USDA Zones 5 through 9.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plantnamed ‘SMNHRL’ as herein illustrated and described.